Accessory for collapsible tubes



June 6, 1933.. l 4 F.w0| -F l1,912,929

I y AccEssoRY FOR coLLAPsIBLE TUBES Filed Jan.` 17, 1931 M ArroRNEY Patented June 6, 1933 ieiaeza FRANK wenn, or New YORK, N. Y. c

AocnssonY FonoonLArsiBLn Tunes Applicationled January 17, 1931. Serial No.1509,314.

My present invention relates to accessories for collapsible containers, and has for its general object the provision of kan improved top for such containers, the invention being inthe nature of a novel attachment produced especially for use in connection withl collapsible tubes of the kind commonly employed for containing tooth paste, shaving cream, cold cream and other substances, although it is to be understood that in practice the attachment of my invention is not confined in its use to such particular kind of container. j

An obj-ect of the invention is the provision of an improved attachment having improved means whereby operatively to carry a cap for closingthe discharge nozzle or spout of the tube, Y Y

Another object of the invention is the pro,- vision of an accessory of the kind described, in which the cap closure, for ready kconnection with and disconnection from the screwV threads of the nozzle, will be guided along a VVpath or line coaxial with the nozzle itself, and, in conjunction with this feature, to so supportthe closure that it can-be swung aside when paste is to be ejected from the nozzle.

Y Itis also within the province of the present invention to provide an accessory of the character described which may be produced for use on the tube either with or withouta stand forthe tube; and further to provide a construction which, as amanufactured article, may be produced either with or without a closure for the nozzle.

VVh-ere the accessory is produced without a closure for the nozzle, its construction is such that the original cap closure accompanying a tube may be appropriatedrand applied Y to thev accessory for use as a permanent part thereof during the -life of that particular tube, and then discarded, if desired," when the tube is discarded. l f

I/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved accessory, and in'th-e form, construction, and relative arrangement of parts, aas willfbe hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein I have illustrated several" simple'and practical embodiments of the invention as reduced toy practice, vand in which` similar reference characters designatev corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1' represents a central,'vertical, sec- 55 tional viewthr-ough an Vaccessory'made in accordance with my invention, rillustrating the same as'applied to a collapsible tube furnished with a stand, both the tube'and stand being fractionally shown; i i

Fig. 2 is an elevational shown'in Fig. 1; .l

Fig. 3. is a fragmentarysectional View of the accessory upon a tube, this View showing Y the .cov-er flange constructed for contacting the bead flange of th-e tube; Y

Fig;y 3a is a fragmentary sectional view Y showing a threaded connectionbetween the cap pin 'and the supporting arm.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but show- 70 view of theV parts ing a modified construction which provides for the utilization of the original cap of the tube as a part of the accessory;

Figr is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4;V and N f:

YFig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail, showing the cap produced with a groove in which to seat the loop of the holder arm. Y t Referring now withmore particularityfto the accompanying drawing, the reference character 10 designates on a somewhat enlarged scale the upper part of a collapsible tube of the kind commonly employed for containing toothpaste, cold cream, shaving cream, and the like; and this tube is provided in the usual vway with a comparatively 'rigid to'V '11 having'a bead flange 12 at its lower ve ge and also having `a central outwardly'projecting nozzle or neck 13 which is exteriorly screw-threaded for receiving the usual end cap 'or closure. l

, The accessory of my present'invention includes a main member in the form of a cover .14, shaped to fit upon the top 11V and havinga central aperture 15 for the projection there- 95 y through of thes'crew-threadednozzle.iA Projecting upwardly from the cover ladj acent its rim are a pair VYof spaced lugs 16, the inner ends of Which are joined by an upstanding abutment or stop memberl'?. A'holder in .1.00

the form of an angular arm 18 has the end portion 19 thereof positioned between the lugs 16 and mounted therebetween for swinging movement upon al pivot pin 2O which connects said lugs. Said arm portion 19 has a cam face 21 which is adapted to fit flatly against the abutment 17 when the arm is in elevated position as shown in Fig. 1; and the opposite end of said arm has a portion 22 which lies in a plane substantially at right angles to the cam face 21. The arm portion 22 is produced with ahead 23 having a bearing 24 wherein an axis pin 25 is mounted to have both axial and turning movement. 26 denotes a cap or closure for the nozzle, this cap consisting of a head portion 27 and a tubular body or shank portion 28 which is interiorly threaded for engagement with the screw threads of the nozzle. The head of the cap is united at a central point with the end of the axis pin 25; and the free end 29 of 'the shank or body 28 constitutes an abutment which is adapted to engage the cover around the nozzle. Under this arrangement, when the arm is in elevated position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, with the cam 'face 21 in engagement with the stop 17, the cap is sustained in adjoining coaxial relation with the nozzle; and the cap, during its screw-threaded application to or its disconnection from the nozzle, is held in such relat-ive position and3 guided by the axis pin which is fitted in the head for both axial. and turning movements. As the cap is screw-threaded upon the nozzle its abutment end 29 engages the cover so as to bind the cover to the top of the tube for the support of the tube, if desired, by the cover. Preferably and as shown, the head of the cap is providedA with an interior sealing projection 30 which is adapted to fit snugly within the interior of the nozzle. Upon unthreadingl the cap from the nozzle, the arm can be swung outwardly into the position shown. by the broken lines in Figl, where it will be clear of the nozzle in order to.` permit the discharge of the contents of the tube. The arm portion19fis also provided with a cam face 31 for engagement with the stop or abutment 17 whereby to limit the-outward movement of the arm and sustain it in the desired position. Instead of the axis pin 25 having sliding and turning fit in the bearing 211 as herein; represented, it may be screw-threaded through-the bearing for axial adjustment therein, andl in such case, the pin `25 on rotation would turn cap 26, as when the cap 26 is rotated it would turn pin 25 in its bearing 24'. An example of this construction is illustrated in F ig. 3a, in which it will be seen that the pin 25 and bearing head 23 are provided respectively with cooperating screw threads 25 and 25". The advantage of this construction is that, upon unscrewing the cap from the nozzle, the pin, because of its screw-threaded engagement with the bearing head, cannot slip axially in the bearing head, but to the contrary will be positively held at the position necessary for the re-engagement of the cap with the nozzle.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cover is represented as provided with a flange 32 for cooperation withy a pairl of leg members 33 which may constitute part of a stand or holder for supporting the collapsible tube. These leg members are represented as having' at their upper ends transverse portions l shaped to engage under the bead flange 12 and also against the body of the tube. The cover with its flange 32 may be made so that the flange will engage the transverse portions 34 and;l bind the same in engagement with the bead fla-nge. Means may alsobe furnished for detachably connecting the cover flange to the leg members; and in the present instance the means to this end are represented as comprising oppositely disposed bayonet slots 35 in the flange 82 and suitable cooperating pins 36 which project from the leg members. The cover of my im.- provcd accessory may. however, be made in such sii/.c that its flange will directly engage the bead flange 12 of the tube top as shown in the fragmentary detail section illustrated in Fi '.lherefore, in carrying out my inni, a stand or sin'iilar holderfor the colver lagjlsrble tube is not an essential, since the cover can be firmly bound to the top of the tube by scrcw-threading the cap tightly upon the nozzle as hereinbefore described.V

fn the illustrative embodiment shown in Figs. l and' 5, the arm for the cap comprises a resilient wire member having one end portion looped upon itself to provide a bearing 37 whereby to turn the arm upon theV pivot pink 38. A suitable pair of lugs 89, upstanding-from the cover 10 carries the pivot pin 38. The opposite end of thewire arm is made into a resilient circular loop e1, forming thereby an open socket adapted to receive the body or shank portion 42 of a4 headed cap 43. Between the circular loop 41 and' the bearing part 37, this wire arm is formed with a resilient elongated loop 44E, of which the portion l5 which constitutes the connection with the circular loop 41 is relatively longer than the portion 46 which constitutes the connection with the bearing part 37. Under this construction, the portion 455 may be moved outwardly with respect to the portion 16 so i that the'cap may be moved into a posi-tion. in adjoining coaxial relation to the nozzle when the cap is to be screw-threaded-upon thenoz.- zle, it being evident of course that the body of the cap has turning i'itl in the resilient ciri asto provide a stop for limiting the outward `cation and removal, in proper coaxial relation `to the nozzle.

With this construction, as' the Cap is threaded upon the nozzle,`the resilient arm may be tensioned toward the arm 46 and the relationship of the arm 45 to the arm 4Qand the pivot 38 is such that noimpedance 1s createdbythe arm-45'to the straight line 'movement of cap 42 when screwed onto or off the threaded nozzle of the collapsible tube 10, the arm' 45 -partakinq of'a substantially `vertical movement, since the arc formed by the movement of the armf45 away from the topfof the tube is very large. The resiliency kof arfm45 enablesthe cap 42 to Work in -a swung aside by swinging the wire arm upon its pivotal connection, the end'47 of the wire arm being projected from the bearing 37 so swing of the arm. Y Inconnectio-n with the form of construction shown iny Fig. 4, I have illustrated'wire legs 48 having at their top ends transverse 'portions 49 which are adapted to engage the opposite sides of the tube and at the same time to engage under the bead liange 12 thereof.v vThe flange 50 of the cover 40A may be produced with an inward deformation 51 which is adapted toy engage over the curved peripheries of the transverse leg portions 49. l/Vhere this type of accessory is employed Without leg portions, the cap maybe utilized as means for bindingthe cover toithe top of the tube so as to support the't'ube by the cover, as inthe form of vconstruction -first above described. y It will'be evident-that any suitablemeans maybe provided'whereby positivelyto` maintain the cap for rotation inthe circular loop 41. One convenient method of providing such positive operative conl 'nection is illustrated in Fig. 6, in which I V"sho-w the body or vshank 42 of the capas provided with an annular groove or seat 52 for receiving-the, circular loop 4l.therein, such annular grooverpreferably being provided adjoining the overhanging shoulder 53 of the head.`

l' In'a'ccordance with the form of construc- Y Vtion illustrated in Figs. 1 and V2, the accesso'ryis produced as an article of manufacture #with a cap or closure forming a part `thereof. In this case, the threaded body or shank of the cap is produced in a standard form so as to fit the standard type of nozzle for which it is intended. Invaccordance Awith' the-formv Vwhich accompanies the collapsible tubey may be put in-thecirculafr loop so as to become a part of the accessory'for usehin-connectlon VVwith the '-ftube.' In thisicase, when it is desired 4to discard the tube after using the contents thereof, the cap may Valso be discarded, K since a new cap is always furnished with the It is in place to note here that the types of accessories herein disclosed notl only provide meansv for sustaining the'cap' in a position for quick application to or removal, from f vthe nozzle, but also constitutel --a sanitary measure, since the cap-upon detachment from the nozzle cannot be dropped uponthe floor orinto a Vsink where it is Vlikely, toY be; contaminated. y l Y Each of the forms of construction herein disclosed evidences Vin its simplest form a sustaining and guiding means for the'cap or closure by means vof which the cap for its quick applicationand as Well for its quick lremoval is (sustained in properv coaxial rela-V tion to thefnozzle, k,with the result that the threads Vofthe cap and nozzle readily cooperate and especially that the 'threads of the nozzle, which are more or less soft,`are1not deformed and destro'yedin applyingand re-' moving the cap. The device of my accessory, therefore, provides simple andl practical `means whereby to maintain the contents ofv the tube in good condition, for with the threads ofthe nozzle maintained in 'I good condition and with the capproperly threaded upon the nozzle a tight air seal is effected which prevents hardening or coagulation of the contents of the tube within the nozzle.

While my improvements have been illustrat-ed and described with some degree of particularity, itis realized thatl in practice vari-V "ous changes andalterations may be made therein. It has'v been sought'herein to illustrate only such'embodiments aswill suffice to exhibit the character of the invention. Reiservation is, therefore, made to the right'or privilege of changing the form ofthe details of the construction 'or otherwise altering the arrangement of parts without departing from Vthe spirit of the invention or the scope of ing a top end with a threaded outlet nozzle,

said accessory comprisingr a main member shaped to overlie the top end of the tube, a holder device connected with said main member for relative movement with respect thereto,a cap threaded for engagement withv the nozzle rotatably V'carried by the holder device, and adapted to be turned relatively with respect to the holder device andy to the main member for engagement with and disengagement fromthe nozzle, said holder device being 'adapted, when in one position, to sustain and guide the cap in coaxalrelation l to said nozzle, for the application of the cap in such relation and for its removal. l

2. An accessory' for collapsible tubes'having a top end with afthrea'ded outlet nozzle,

said accessory lcomprising a lnain member adapted to overlie the top end of the tube, a

capY threaded for threaded enga-gement with the nozzle, a device relatively movable on the -main member supportingthe cap thereto,

said `device supporting the cap for rotary movement with respect theretoand for inder pendent axial movement with respect to the main member, and a stonfor the device arranged forV engagement thereby in a position -in which the device will sustain the cap in Vmovement, a cap carried by the holder for turning movement and threaded for engagement with the threads of the nozzle, and an abutment end provided on the cap for engagement with the cover around the nozzle so as to bind the cover tothe top when the cap is tightened upon the nozzle.

4. An accessory for collapsible tubes hav- A ing al comparatively rigid top and a projecting screw-threaded outlet nozzle, said accessoryrcomprising a cover shaped to fit the top, an arm pivoted to the cover for swinging movement and provided with a bearing head, an axis pin mounted in the bearing head for axial movement with respect thereto and relatively to the cover, and a cap carried by the axis pin and threaded for engagement with the screw threads of the nozzle.

5. An accessory for collapsible tubes having a comparatively rigid top and a projecting screw-threaded outlet nozzle, a cover shaped to lit` the top, an arm pivoted to the cover 'and provided with a bearing loop, said arm being provided with a resilient loop between the point of its pivoted connection with the cover and said bearing loop, and a cap having a head and a body, the last-named being threaded for engagement with the screw threads of the nozzle and beingmounted in said bearing loop to have turning move-V ment therein. v

6. An accessory for collapsible tubes having a comparatively rigid top and a projecting screw threaded outlet nozzle, said accessory comprising a cover shaped to iit the top, an arm pivoted at one end to the cover and provided witha bearing loop at the opposite end, said arm having an elongated resilient loop between its pivoted end and'said bearing loop, providing for actuation of the loop relatively to the cover to move the bearing loop relatively thereto, and a cap threaded for engagement with the screw threads of the nozzle and mounted in said bearing loop to have turning movement therein.

7; An accessory comprising in combination with a collapsible tube having a comparatively rigid top with a bead flange and a projecting outlet nozzle, and leg members for the tube engaging vwith the bead flange, a cover shaped to lit the top, a cap for the nozzle, a device supporting the cap to the cover and adapted to be moved into a position in which the cap will be in adjoining coaxial relation to the nozzle, the cap being supported for independent movement with respect to the supporting device and relatively with respecty to the cover, a flange on the cover engaging overV the leg members, and means for securing the flange to the leg members. Y

8. In combination with a collapsible tube havinga comparatively rigid top end and a projecting exteriorly threaded outlet nozzle, a cover shaped to overlie the top end of the tube and to lit about the nozzle, aholder attached to the cover for movement with respect thereto, a cap carried by the holder for rotary movement with respect to both the cover and the nozzle, said cap being threaded for engagement with the threads of the nozzle.

V9. 1n combination, a resilient arm, a base at one end thereof for supporting said arm, a screw threaded cap for an outlet nozzle of a collapsible tube, means supporting the cap from the opposite end of the arm, including a positive guiding engagement which permits rotary movement of the cap while guiding the cap in an axial line to give the cap a vertical line movement in alignment with thenozzle, whereby to connect the cap to, and disconnect it from, the nozzle on a vertical line movement, and a member to which said base is attached, shaped to afford and maintain an engagement with conical end of the tube.

10.An accessory` for a collapsible tube comprising in combination, an arm' having one end engaged with a cover shaped to afford and maintain an engagement with the conical top of said tube, for retaining said arm in position, a cap adapted to be engaged with the screw threaded nozzle of said tube, means supporting the cap from the opposite end ofthe arm so as to permit the cap to be freely and bodily moved in vertical-alignment with the nozzle a vertical distance sufficient for the connection of the cap to,

and its disconnection from, the nozzle, said cap being screw-threaded forV eifecting theaded engagement with the nozzle-of said tu e. Y

11. An accessory for a collapsible tube comprising in combination, an arm, means associated with thetube for attaching and supporting said arm at its lower end, `a screw-threaded capifor engagement with the nozzle of said tube, a-threaded pin attached to said cap in vertical alignment with the center of said cap, a threaded bearing at the upper portion of said arm in threaded engagement With said pin and adapted While permitting threaded movement of the pin in the bearing to sustain the pin and hence the cap when the latter is disconnected from the nozzle of said tube. Y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

FRANK WOLF. 

